Signs & Wonders Blog

During my junior year of high school (1980-81), my best friend David told me about two St. Paul-based preachers warning about the dangers of rock music. Dan and Steve Peters received national attention with seminars that sometimes concluded with young people burning their records. I would learn more about the Peters Brothers through articles published in Rolling Stone magazine and my high school newspaper. Another friend loaned me a cassette tape of their seminar. As a rock music fan, I didn’t want to believe what I heard. In 1984, I attended my first Peters Brothers seminar at Moorhead State University (where I was a Music Industry major). Dan and Steve showed photos, album covers, and song lyrics from well-known rock stars. They also quoted Scripture showing why these musicians promoted ungodly ideas. Although I agreed with their disapproval of satanic album covers and explicit lyrics, I thought parts of the seminar lacked credibility, such as examples of “backward masking” that we...

A few weeks ago following a service at a Christian campground, I picked up a newsletter written by that night’s speaker, a minister who I know and respect. The newsletter included an article entitled “False Prophets & Damnable Doctrines.” Most of what he wrote I agreed with except for him criticizing Christian nightclubs. This minister didn’t think God could use such a venue for His glory. In 1997, I briefly volunteered at the New Union (now called Club 3 Degrees), a Christian nightclub in Minneapolis affiliated with a Full Gospel church I attended in the Twin Cities area. This club was started by a couple who desire to reach out to young people who normally wouldn’t attend a church service. I can relate to their vision since I used to work as a disco DJ. Until I got born again, I erroneously believed God was against modern music. Yet the Bible says in many places, “Sing to the Lord a new song.” Getting back to the New Union/Club 3 Degrees, this club hosts concerts by ...

Last night I was surprised to learn of the death of Dana Key, one half of DeGarmo & Key. This group was among the pioneers of Christian rock music. (It’s also interesting to note Key was a direct descendant of Francis Scott Key, the author of "The Star Spangled Banner.”) DeGarmo & Key were the first Christian group to have a music video appear on MTV. Strangely enough, the original video for their song "Six, Six, Six" was pulled from rotation on MTV due to violent content. MTV was supposedly unaware that DeGarmo & Key were a Christian band when their video for "Six, Six, Six" included a short scene of a man representing the Antichrist being set on fire. DeGarmo & Key were allowed to submit a re-edited version, which was placed back into rotation. While I didn’t listen to DeGarmo & Key’s music a whole lot, Dana wrote a book that impacted my life as a young Christian. “Don’t Stop the Music” was a response to the anti-"Chris...